Dust-proof receptacle for tubular straws.



J. HURLEY. DUST PROOF REGEPTAGLE FOR TUBULAR STRAWS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.15, 1909.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

JOHN HURLEY, OF LITTLE FALLS,

NEW YORK.

DUST-PROOF RECEPTACLE FOR. TUBULAR STRAWS.

erases.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1909.

Application filed April 15, 1909. Serial No. 490,177.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Homer, a citizen of the United States, residingat Little Falls, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Dust-Proof Receptaclesfor Tubular Straws, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a dust-proof receptacle for tubular straws.

()ne object of the invention is to provide a receptacle for drinkingstraws embodying such clmracteristics that but one straw at a time maybe removed from the receptacle.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a receptaclewhich is dustproof, and which provides for the withdrawal of the strawtherefrom in such a way as to obviate the possibility of a persongrasping a straw at any but its intermediate point, so that if oneperson withdraws one straw, and while he might in the operation engageother straws, he will not engage the other straws either at the endswhich the subsequent user will place in his mouth or in the soda wateror other liquid which may be drawn through the tubes.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the present inventionconsists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter morefully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat changes may be made in the form, proportion size and minor detailswithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantagesof the invention.

In the drawings :Fignre 1 is an elevation of the invention. Fig. 2 is avertical sectional view. F 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line1(( of Fig. 1.

eferring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, thereference character 1 indicates a base upon which is mounted a hollowcylindrical shaped member 2. whose upper end 3 is closed and providedwith a cavity l, there being oppositely disposed slots in the sides ofthe cylindrical member 2 which slots are enlarged at (i intermediatetheir ends for a purpose presently explained, there being a sanitarygauze bed 7 disposed upon the base 1 at the bottom of the cylindricalmember 2.

The character 8 indicates a cylindrical body which envelops the innermember 9 and which has a closed upper end at 9 provided with an interiordepending bearing 10 adapted to [it in the cavity -'l: in the top 1-) ofthe inner member so that the outer member 8 may be rotated upon theinner member The outer member 8 is cylindrical in formation and hasoppositely disposed slots 11 which are enlarged at 12 and which areadapted to be rotated into and out of registration with the slots 5 ofthe inner member 2, so that access may be had to the inner member 2 whenthe slots of the two members are in alinement for the purpose ofinserting or withdrawing the straws 15 from the inner member. The outercylindrical member 8 has its lower end terminating short of the base 1and it is provided with :1 depending projection 13 which is adapted toengage a stop ll on the inner member 1. to insure a positive alinementof the slots 5 and ll of the respective members, so that access may bereadily had to the interior of the inner member 2. The outer member 8has its slots normally out of alinement with the slots of the innermember 2 to provide for a dust-proof receptacle. In other words, whenthe outer member is rotated to dispose its slots out of alinement withthe slots of the inner member, the interior of the inner member 2 is notsubject to the collection of dust. A person desirous of using a strawsimply rotates the outer member upon its pivotal bearing 10 until itsslots 11 aline with the slots 5 of the inner member. This alinement ofthe slots is insured by virtue of the stop 14: of the inner member beingengaged by the projection 13 of the outer member. When the slots havebeen alined. as just stated, the person desirous of using a straw mayinsert his thumb and forefinger in the enlarged parts (3 and 12 of theslots and 11, respectively, and thereby grasp a straw. which he maywithdraw from the receptacle and by virtue of the slots 5 and 11 beingcinnparatively narrow.the prospective user of the straw can withdraw butone straw at a time. However, by his manipulation of the straw andwithdrawingit from the receptacle, his lingers will contact with otherstraws of the receptacle. I therefore provide the enlarged parts of theslots intermediate their ends so that a prospective user in contactingwith other straws in withdrawing the one he desires to use, his fingerswill not.- engage the other straws at their ends but intermediate theirends only, whereby all users of the straws take hold of the straws atpoints above which the straws are subsequently dipped into the liquid ofa glass and to that portion thereof which is brought into contact withthe lips of the user. It will be noted that the enlarged por tions 6 and12 of the slots 5 and 11, respectively, are nearer the tops of the slotsthan the lower ends thereof.

If desired I may eliminate the outer member and employ the inner memberonly, the only difference resulting in this change being that in the useof the inner member only the slots thereof are not closed at any time.

Theinner and outer members and base or other elements of which thereceptacle may be composed may be formed of glass, metal, porcelain, orany other suitable material, but the characteristic features of theinvention, as herein outlined, will be apparent in the device in so faras the scope and spirit of the appended claims will permit for theproduction of a dust-proof or other receptacle for tubular drinkingstraws and pro vide for a single delivery of the straws.

\Vhat is claimed is 1. A tubular straw holder comprising a fixed hollowinner member, and an enveloping outer member rotatably mounted upon theinner member, each member having oppositely disposed slots, each slotbeing enlarged intermediate its ends, the inner member having a stop andthe outer member having a projection for engagement with said stop tolimit the rotative movement of the outer member when the slots of themembers are brought into alinement.

2. A tubular straw holder comprising a fixed hollow inner member, and anenveloping outer member rotatably mounted upon the inner member, eachmember having a slot which is enlarged intermediate its ends, the innermember having a stop and the outer member having a projection forengagement with said stop to limit the ro tative movement of the outermember when the slots of themembers alinement.

V An article holder comprising a receptacle composed of inner and outermembers, one member being rotative with respect to the other member andeach member having a comparatively narrow vertical slot which isenlarged intermediate its ends nearer the top than at the bottom of theslots whereby a single straw at a time may be withdrawn from thereceptacle when the slots of the two members are brought intoalinementand whereby the receptacle is rendered dustproof when the slotsof the two members are out of alinement.

4. A tubular straw holder, comprising a fixed hollow inner member, andan enveloping outer member, rot-atably mounted upon the inner member;each member having oppositely disposed slots, adapted to be brought intoand out of alinement, to permit of the withdrawal of the straws, whenthe slots are in alinement; each of said slots having an enlargedportion intermediate its ends.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses;

JOHN HURLEY. \Vitnesses Gno. A. DECKER, LUTHER M. KANE.

are brought into

